EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. —Sam Bradford is in line to be the Vikings starting quarterback for the 2017 season.
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer met with the Twin Cities media Tuesday for his season-ending press conference and praised Bradford for his play this season.
Bradford, who was acquired in a Sept. 3 trade with Philadelphia, engineered the best season of his career while in Purple.
"I think Sam has played great this year," Zimmer said. "I think he has earned the right to be the starting quarterback.
"Sam has done remarkable with the things he's done this year with all the things he's had to do," Zimmer later added.
Bradford completed 395 of 552 passes and set an NFL record and Vikings franchise record with a completion percentage of 71.6. His 395 completions were also a franchise mark.
The former 2010 No. 1 overall pick threw for a career-high 3,877 yards in 15 starts and threw for 20 touchdowns, one score shy of his career best. Bradford only threw five interceptions, but his career-low of four occurred in just seven games.
Bradford was acquired from the Eagles after Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a season-ending dislocated knee injury and also tore his left ACL in a non-contact drill during an Aug. 30 practice.
Zimmer said Bridgewater, a first-round pick in 2014, has been in high spirits at Winter Park of late.
"Right now, all I'm worried about is Teddy getting better," Zimmer said. "He comes in here every single day and busts his rear end.
"I just want him to get better, so we'll worry about all of those other things later," he added.
Zimmer did not have a timeline for the status of Bridgewater, who helped lead the Vikings to an 11-5 record and an NFC North title in 2015. Zimmer said the uniqueness of Bridgewater's injury has played a part in his rehab and recovery process.
"It's different with everyone," Zimmer said. "Whoever has had this injury, they've studied it … the ones who have come back, how long it's taken to come back, how long it hasn't taken to come back … but they're all different.
"There's no exact injury where it's all the same," Zimmer added. "You're talking about an ACL, well there's lots of those and they're all the same. This one, there's no exact (injury) … some are with nerve damage, some are without nerve damage, there's just so many variables with this particular injury."
Zimmer said Bridgewater's work ethic has always been one of his best attributes.
"I do know this," Zimmer said. "Teddy is a guy who will do everything possible to get back as he soon as possibly can get back.
"He would be a guy I would never bet against," Zimmer added.
